Great start to '08

Wow, 2008. Can you believe it?

The new year got off to a nice start, thanks to lovely hostesses Catarina, Maya and Isabel. Great munchies were served, but I am suspecting the fix was in during the games portion of the evening, as twice I was on the team with the early lead, only to have the teams Maya was on steal victory in the end.

But, I shant pout, because it was too much fun!

I am sad to report that I did not take my camera along, so I have no photos of the evening, including Suzanna's stylish new hairstyle nor do I have evidence of Isa wearing her new Christmas outfit. So, hopefully Cat will share some of her photos.

Also, since I haven't make a post in a while, I wanted to say it was great to see so all you desert dwellers on the web camera on Christmas day (I'm sorry you ended up watching us eat). But it was very nice to see and hear everyone, even if we all could not be together on Christmas.

I've been busy in the days since Christmas enjoying all my cool gifts as much as possible and scratching lottery tickets. I can't report any new-found massive wealth, but I do think there were a few winners in there. I'll have to take them in and get them checked, because some of those games were far too complicated for my simple mind to figure out. I need a ticket that just says "You Win" or You Lose" I guess. Either that, or I should have stayed in college longer and got an advanced degree to figure out all the rules, regulations, etc. When did scratch tickets get so complicated?

Anyway, I hope everyone's new year is off to a fantastic start so far. And I'm sorry to hear that Monica and Suzanna are sick (especially since I got hugs from both of them on New Year's Eve!) Now I'm going to be all freaked out every time my nose tickles for the next week or so.

Happy New Year all!

Our opening pic, blogs and safe landings...

Hello!

Just wanted to share with all of you that my little girl has just safely landed in Portland! Phew! She's ours next year....so, i say that we all try and get together on the actual holiday of x-mas!!

that's A....

who says that we should update that opening pic?? i bet that it's the last time a pic like that was sucessfully taken of most of us together...but we should really try to gather for a new one...WHO'S WITH ME?!

that's B....

and C is....

THIS IS SOOOO COOL!! GARY YOU ARE A GENIUS!! Rockin Rockus!

k, that's my lot!

love you all! be safe for New Year's!!

ps- did i mention that my oldest baby is home??!!?? yeeehawww!!

Christmas past and present

Christmas always falls on the same date on the calendar, Dec. 25, but many years Christmas is celebrated on another date. Sometimes there are several Christmases each year. It all depends on when family or friends can make time, or traverse distance, to be together.

For many years, I was not really a big fan of Christmas. And I've never cared for shopping very much But that changed sometime over the years. I have found I actually enjoy Christmas shopping for Suzanna. I'm not sure I'm any good at it. But trying to find things she will like -- maybe things on her wish list, maybe things she hasn't expressed a wish for, has been much more fun that I really care to admit.

Now the wrapping part, that I hate. I"m not good at it. The gifts I wrap always look like they they were wrapped by a 5 year old or like gifts that have been sitting under the tree for weeks that pets have been using as chew toys. It's not good.

Thank goodness for whomever invented the gift bag!

I would be hard pressed to remember many specific gifts I've received (or given for that matter) for Christmas. But I have many happy memories from Christmas gatherings from one end of the state to the other. So I thought I'd share some photos of Christmases past from the holiday season. I'm not many, or any of them were actually taken on Christmas day. But these are some examples of what I remember about Christmas.

Does anyone else remember the year Anna was pregnant with Andrew and Christmas at Martha and Michael's house? One of the lasting images for me were Michael and Suzanna on the little couch and Michael covered with holiday ribbons. Another was Cat going around the room demonstrating Anna's head massager gift. Judging by Anna's reaction, she's seemed to like it.

I lost most of my photos from Christmas last year in Pendleton, but I do still have this family portrait, that shows just how much Andrew has grown. And of course this year, Sarah no longer has braces, and Andrew is bigger still.

Sadly, though, Shawn is still known to wear green U of O Duck gear.

And speaking of changes, does anyone recognize the little brown-haired girl in this photo? Before we all know it, Isabel will be that age and Maya will be looking and acting all grown up!






In this one, Monica shows off some fancy martini glasses she got as a gift, and Elizabeth seems to appreciate them too. Unfortunately, there weren't martini fixins included with the gift.



And this photo was from a recent Christmas at my parents' house, with my grandmother, my parents and my brother Dean. This will be our first Christmas without my grandmother, who died earlier this month. We miss you Grandma.

For those of you I won't see this holiday season, you are much on my mind this season. Thanks for the Christmas card Martha and Michael. And thanks to all of you who have been the part of so many happy Christmas memories.

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year!